NJ ‘Fake Farm’ Tax Break Ruling Expands Whistleblower Claims (1)

Government officers blowing the whistle on public corruption received expanded protections Wednesday from a New Jersey appeals court ruling touching on the state’s crackdown over “fake farm” tax credits.

Township of Tewksbury tax assessor Anna-Maria Obiedzinski had her Conscientious Employee Protection Act claims revived allowing her to sue the local government for reducing her hours, cutting her salary, reprimanding and belittling her after she spoke out against tax breaks received by a local commissioner. The trial court wrongly denied her claim based on old precedent limiting tenured and statutorily protected officeholders that can be removed only by a state employment ...